Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-03-10
a nosPlTAL sceNt.
What 1t Costs Dissipated New Workers -
Be Treated for Delirium Tremens.
Visitors to a well known New York

What II Costs Dissipated New YorI<Ers -
Be Treated for DeIirium Tremens.
Visitors to well known New York
hospital uptown frequently express as
| constituent at the appearance and
character of the inmates of one end of
the building. 1t is furnished much
| like first-class club house. There are
billiard and chess rooms, smoking
| apartments, elegant parlors and q
choice library. The rooms face to the
| south and are inundated with food of
| cheerful sunlight every pleasant MORN
| ing. The latest newspapers and the
freshest magazines are always to be
found on the center tables. Above this
suite of rooms are bedrooms with IRON
barred windows. Each apartment il
heated by steam, and plainly furnished.
There are no carpets on the floors.
The window curtains and the clothing
on the iron bedsteads are as white as
snow, and the brass knobs surrounding
the foot and head boards are polished
until they shine like gold. White
capped nurses fit through the corri-
doris like ghosts, and occasionally ap-
palling cries are heard from darkened
rooms at the east of the edifce. Con-
valescents are to be seen in the parlors
below. Nearly all are men of dignified
appearance. Many are gray-haired,
and all are well-dressed. Most of them
wear dressing-gowns and slippers. All
are well educated, and converse with
readiness on the most interesting topics
of the day. You will find among them
q well known hotel proprietor, several
brokers and real estate dealers, one or
two journalists, few lawyers of SUI
perior intellects. including one of I'M
rivaled brilliancy as an advocate, and
half Il dozen politicians. They are IA
remarkable group. All seem to have
gone through the furnace of intense suf-
fering. Their lips are dry and are fire.
quently moistened by the action of the
tongue. Their faces are bleached and
blanched. Subdued nervousness is APP
parent in their eyes, and in their man.
ner and bearing. They are courtly
and polite in intercourse, but it is the
courtliness and politeness of party OF
French mobiles who can not shake of
memories of the Reign of Terror. On
the surface all is suavity and amenity,
but beneath it there is a strong under
tow of reserve. They smile at each
jeu de mot and jeu d'espr>it, but very
rarely laugh outright, and they never
slap each other on the knee in the in
tensity of their enjoyment. At times
you see them furtively watching each
other. rs though lost in the depths of
mental speculation. Anon they herd
together like sheep in q panic. Some
sit at tables reading or writing with
spasmodic energy, and others play
billiards. A very few are trying to
work out abstruse problems at chess.
All appear to be men of wealth, aim
lessly busy and nervous as to their
future. Care is written on their
features, and each man seems to be
cankered at the heart.
You may fancy this institution either
a lunatic asylum or a home for inebri-
ates. 1t is nothing of the kind. 1t is
simply ward in the best hospital in
New York City devoted to the cure of
msn suffering from delirium tremens
dollars q week entrance fee and thirty
uolldTS d Week WheH eOnValeScihS.
They receive the best of care and medi-
cal treatment. Like old hulks and re-
claimed wrecks, they are thoroughly
tumigated, chalked anew, repainted and
reftted. and again made ready for the
sea of life. Many are thrown on their
beam ends in the first gale that follows
and are promptly returned to this dock
yard of humanity. Others are swamped
outright in typhoons of dissipation and
never again see the refitting station.
Its physicians, and nurses, however,
are ever busy, day and night, strength
ening frail crafts, bracing them at weak
points and readiusting their cOmpasses.
Amos j. Cummings, in N. 7. Mail
and Express.